UN-Habitat, IGAD launch guide to help Horn of Africa cities prepare for El Niño flooding

NAIROBI, Kenya - The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have introduced a new framework aimed at helping cities in the Horn of Africa better prepare for El Niño-related flooding. This guide, developed in partnership with the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), shifts city authorities from reactive disaster response to proactive preparation using climate forecasts and early warning systems.

Titled "El Niño Preparedness: An Anticipatory Action Framework for City Leaders," the advisory offers practical steps for municipal and city governments to allocate resources, enhance warning systems, and safeguard critical infrastructure before flooding occurs. With predictions of heavy rainfall in certain regions, low-lying settlements and flood-prone areas face greater risks from extreme weather.

The framework provides guidance on translating climate forecasts into actionable decisions through impact-based scenarios, predefined triggers for action, anticipatory financing, and improved coordination among government bodies. It also outlines sector-specific measures to mitigate flooding, disease outbreaks, and other climate-related hazards on urban populations.

Central to the initiative, the framework emphasizes the need to equip local authorities with the financial resources and institutional structures necessary for proactive decision-making, rather than relying solely on emergency responses after disasters strike.

Moreover, the document stresses the importance of safeguarding vulnerable populations and ensuring the continuity of essential services during climate-related emergencies. By integrating regional climate information with city-level planning, UN-Habitat and its partners aim to enhance urban resilience and empower local governments to make timely decisions that minimize loss of life and infrastructure damage.

This approach places city and municipal authorities at the forefront of anticipatory action, recognizing that effective disaster preparedness requires collaboration between climate forecasting agencies, urban planners, emergency responders, and local communities.